Report from Bro. Loughborough by John Norton Loughborough

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 9, 1864

Report from Bro. Loughborough.

By John Norton Loughborough

At the time of my last report I was about leaving Fitchburg, Mass. for Ashfield. Not being acquainted with the route, and not receiving intelligence from the Brn. there as to the best way to come I inquired my way through to South Deerfield, from whence I should have taken the stage for Ashfield. But when I arrived there I found the stage had gone. So I hired a private team to carry me 16 miles to where the Brn. lived. I found them very glad to see me. On the Sabbath Jan. 2d, we had meetings at Bro. Thayer's in Buckland and on first-day at Bro. Edson's in Ashfield.

Several Brn. and sisters were present from Hoosic Tunnel, Mass. and from Vernon, Vt. We had freedom in presenting the word which seemed to impart strength to the hearers. On Monday forenoon we organized Systematic Benevolence with those who were ready to enter into it, amounting to $65,52 per year. In the afternoon we attended the funeral of a child of Bro. Edson some 5 weeks of age. In the evening we had a good social meeting in which several of the youth made a start for the kingdom. Tuesday morning Jan. 5th I came on to Springfield and found Bro. Johnson at the cars waiting for me. He is about the only Sabbath-keeper in Springfield, but I had an opportunity to speak in the evening with much freedom to a company of Adventists who assembled at the house of Bro. Morgan. Wednesday morning, before leaving, I had an opportunity to visit the great U. S. Armory where I saw 185,000 muskets all ready for service, and had the privilege of viewing the different apartments where these implements of death are made. The business of this establishment has probably been increased 10 to 20 fold since the war began. They now employ 8000 hands who run the machinery night and day (Sunday excepted) and turn out 1,000 muskets every day. While conversing with a friend on the facts of the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy, "Wake up the mighty men &c. beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks ('margin scythes') into spears," said he, That has had a literal fulfillment here, for they brought in several car loads of old scythes and made them over into bayonets.

Wednesday, Jan. 6th, came on to Kensington, Ct. Here Bro. Pierce met me the 8th, and we commenced our meeting on Sabbath the 9th. We remained here till Wednesday the 13th. We spoke 5 times which seemed to encourage the hearts of the church, wrongs were righted and some of the youth with feeling hearts resolved to serve the Lord.

Here were some of the first who embraced the Sabbath in the East, who have waded through trials, afflictions and disappointments, and indeed our own hearts were watered to see them encouraged by the word of good cheer. Bro. Daniels and one from his neighborhood were here, also Bro. Johnson from Springfield. On first-day we reorganized Systematic Benevolence in Kensington, amounting now to over $55. We also organized it for the few at New Boston, amount about $47, and for Springfield about $26. Wednesday Jan. 13, I came on to New York City while Bro. Pierce came on to the eastern part of Ct. to meet with a few scattered ones in Abington &c. There he had some interesting meetings and organized s. B. to amount of about $18.

In New York and vicinity I found about 16 Seventh day Adventists, hungry for the word of life. My meetings were in different places. The first in Maspeth at the house of Sr. Chamberlain Friday night Jan. 15th. Several of the neighbors came in. I tried to show them the reason their neighbors kept the Seventh-day, good attention was given. On Sabbath had meeting in Williamsburg L. I. and on Sunday at Brooklyn. We had quite a comfortable congregation on Sunday who gave good attention. In the afternoon spoke on the Christian's Hope, a funeral discourse for the child of Bro. Czechowski. We were much encouraged at the result of our meeting in N. Y. as the church seemed to take new courage. While here we organized s. B. amounting to upwards of $80 per year.

Thursday Jan. 21st, came on to Peacedale, R. I. where I met Bro. Pierce again, and we joined Bro. Cornell in his meeting there, tarried over Sabbath and first-day. The congregations were larger than the house could hold. Several have already embraced the truth there, and judging from the way they took books and subscribed for the Review, they seemed determined to know about these things. Bro. Cornell stated that over 30 had subscribed for the Review. May the Lord speed on the work there. To-day we came on to this place where we remain till to-morrow.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

Providence, R. I. Jan. 26th, 1864.